A Package Deal

This Won't Be Goodbye (Chapter 14)

Arriving at the airport and jumping out of the car, Addie landed on both feet.

"Ohh, this might be a long trip home!" Gabby said, dragging out the words. "Are you able to stay for a bit?"

"I can stay."

"Good, I'm starved. Let's get something to eat."

There wasn't much open, but after some searching, Ignazio found a restaurant that served more than just coffee and donuts. Taking Gabby and Addilyn's orders, he left them to select a table to sit at.

"So, tell me about last night. Did you have fun?"

Wiggling in her seat, Addilyn shared her adventure, starting with the trip to pick up Piero and Gianluca.

"Mommy, the pizza was THIS big!" Addie stretched her arms wide. "Then we played video games, and there was a huge slide into a ball pit! It was so much fun!"

"Here you go, sweetheart," Ignazio said, setting their food on the table.

Scrunching her nose up and sticking out her tongue, Addie flat-out asked, "What's this?"

"It's bacon," Ignazio replied.

"That doesn't look like bacon!" she protested.

Chuckling, Ignazio took the limp piece of meat and added it to his breakfast bagel.

"Mommy!" Addie jumped off her chair, eyes pleading, clutching her mother's arm. "My stuffie's at the hotel!"

"No, it isn't, my love. Honeybun is in my backpack."

"Nooo! Piero gave me an elephant, and I left it at the hotel." On the verge of crying, Addie crawled onto her mother's lap as Ignazio spoke.

"Addilyn, it's going to be okay. I'll text Piero and get him to look for your stuffie. When he finds it, I will send it to you, or better yet, how about I take care of your elephant until I see you again." Raising his palm, he promised, "I will take excellent care of him, and every time I look at him, I will think of you." Reaching over and lightly squeezing Addilyn's cheek, Ignazio gave her a smile.

"I think that's a fantastic idea," Gabby announced.

Rubbing her face on her mother's shoulder, Addie half-heartedly agreed.

***

Walking through the airport, no one spoke, not even Addilyn. This was it; the culmination of the last two and a half days was here. Gabby blinked back tears as she guided Addilyn and Ignazio to a quiet corner. Unable to hold it in anymore, collapsing into his embrace, silent tears soaked his shirt. Her face buried in his chest, her only solace in the rhythm of his heartbeat.

"Ignazio," her voice cracked when she finally pulled away, needing to see him clearly. His eyes were glistening, too, and she saw their quiet pain.

"Ignazio, are you absolutely certain about this? You know that I come as a package deal."

"I'm serious about this, Gabby," he said, his words thick. "I want this. I don't care that you're a package deal."

"But you should care," she whispered, her hand trembling as she touched his arm. "It's not just us. Addilyn loves you. There will be days you're not ready for. You'll have to be the bad guy. You'll have to put up with more than you thought you could handle, and there's no running away from that."

"I didn't mean to imply that I'm not taking this seriously. Believe me, I am. I've thought about it. More than you know." Releasing Gabby from his hug, Ignazio rubbed his palms up and down her arms. "The downside to my career is that it takes me away from the people I love far too often. However, the upside is it also allows me to provide well for them." Taking her face in his hands, he stroked her cheek with his thumb. "I know there will be difficult times. And I want to be there because this—us—is worth everything. It's all worth it."